WORK on a £70m development, delayed after funding fell through, could start in autumn.

Kirklees College has now submitted revised plans for funding for its Waterfront Quarter campus, Chapel Hill, to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC).

The college’s plans stalled in March when the LSC became oversubscribed with applications for grants from colleges across the country.

Nearly 200 colleges had to reapply for funding, demonstrating that their plans gave value for money and would help regenerate their areas.

But on June 26 the Government announced Kirklees College was one of only 13 colleges allowed through to the next stage.

The LSC will announce in August which applications have been successful.

If Kirklees College gets the green light the first brick of the Waterfront Quarter could be laid in early autumn.

The college is regarded as key to the development, which could also include offices and apartments.

Kirklees College won planning permission last year for the new £70m site on a triangle of land between Manchester Road, Chapel Hill and the River Colne.

The campus would be the centrepiece of a wider £175m redevelopment, known as Waterfront Quarter, which would include three blocks of flats and four office buildings and would create 2,000 jobs.

Kirklees College vice-principal Melanie Brooke says she is confident the college will secure the funding.

She said: “Following extensive discussions with the LSC and our partners we have now submitted our final proposals for the new campus at the Waterfront Quarter.

“All 13 further education building projects selected to proceed to the next stage of development have had to demonstrate ‘best value for money’ and we have done all we can to ensure this is the case.

“Our plans will now be assessed by the Regional LSC and if approval is given they will go forward to the National LSC for a final decision. We will discover whether our new plans have been approved by the end of August.

“If we receive the go-ahead we would hope to begin work at the site in the early autumn.

“We are currently in discussions with the LSC regarding the level of funding they will provide. The college hopes the LSC will be able to make a substantial contribution to the project. As yet we do not know exactly how much that contribution will be.

“This is a great opportunity for the college to make a huge difference to the lives of individuals, the success of local companies and the regeneration of the town.

“We remain confident that this scheme will get the green light and give the people of Huddersfield a fantastic place to learn and work.”